Mail receiving and delivering apparatus



APPARATUS. l 9 0 7V.

Patented Sept. 15

Jas. LANIER. MAIL RECEIVING AND DELIVERING APPLICATION-FILED OCT. 3l,

Witmmaz JAMES SMITH LANIER, OF WEST FOINT, GEORGIA.

MAIL RECEIVING AND DELIVENG APPARATUS.r

ne. seance.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 19Q8.

Application filed October 31, 1907. Serial No. 400,220.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES SMITH LANIER,

a citizen oi 'the United States, residing at il] est Point, in the county of Troup and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Mail Receiving and Delivering Apparatus; and l do hereby declare the 'iollowin to be a full, clear, and exact description o the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains to make and use the same.

T is invention relates to improvements in Inail receiving and delivering apparatus and more particularly to the type especially adapted for facilitating the receipt and delivery of mail from and to a container by a postman Without requiring his dismounting.

Among the' objects in view is the production oi' a simple and commercially practical device which shall bc at the same time susceptible oi ready and easy manipulation and capable of automatically assuming an out of the Way position when not retained by an operator.

The invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of arts as will be hereinafter fully described an( claimed.

ln the accom anying drawing: Figure 1 is a view 1n side e ovation with thev parts illus trated in full rlines extended and in dotted lines just after being retracted and before returning toa lateral position. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof showing the parts in full lines in the normal at rest position and in dotted lines in either oi the positions indicated in Fig. 1, parts being broken away for the saving of space. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on thc plane indicated pn line 3 3 ci Fig. 1 and looking downwardly. Fig. e is a transverse vertical central section taken through the support for the mail box detached from the box, the section being taken approximately on the line indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the u per or swiveled portion of the parts seen in hg. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lower or fixed portion of said parts. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail transverse section through'the vertical bar of the bracket indicating the guiding cam. in the top plan, the section being 'taken on the plane indicated by line 7 7 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line ,8-8 on Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a post or other suitable support to which is fixed a bracket plate 2. The lower end of the bracket plate 2 is bent Ll'irst to Va horizontal position into the horizontal portion 3 and then bent to a vertical position into the vertical portion 4 parallel to the main body of the plate and the third vtime bent into the horizontal portion 5 parallel to portion 3. The upper end of the plate 3 is provided with a horizontal i'lange or bracket portion v6, the said flange being formed with a longitudinal slot 7 having oiilset portions 8 at its ends. lt is to be observed that the otfset portions 8 are cach formed of a relatively large shoulder E) on the side ofthe slot 7 nearest the post 1 and a relatively small shoulder 10 on the opposite side of the slot. The horizontal portion 5 of the folded portion of the plate 2 is formed With an opening 11 and the horizontal portion 3 is prelerab y provided with a depressed point or recess 12.

A bracket 13 is carried by the late 2 and consists reierably of a strap fo ded into a triangle iiaving one end bolted as at 14 to the vertical portion of the triangle above the lower end of said vertical portion, and between the horizontal portion 5 and flange 6 of alate 2, the said vertical portion or" the bracket 13 bein y extended through slot 7 and aperture 11 andD having its lower end preferably beveled ofi as at 15l and extending into the recess 12. Of course in assembling or dismantling the parts it is necessary to rev move the bolt 14 and spring the inclined arm ofthe bracket 13 past the liange 6.

The upper edge of the strap of the bracket 13 is disposed in a horizontal plane when the vertical portion of the bracket is at either end of the slot 7 as indicated in Fig. 2, so that said upper edge inclines upwardly in an outward direction when the vertical portion oi said bracket is disposed centrally with respect to the length of the slot 7. Thus the bracket 13 is given the tendency to swing laterally to the out ofthc Way position indicated in Fig. 2 Whenever the bracket is released and free to move.

A sleeve 11i surrounds the upper strap of thc bracket 1 3 and is provided with rollers 15, .15 engaging the respective upper and lower A to disntount.

faces ol' said strap. 'l`he upper portion of the sleeve 14 is lixed to a supportingr bar t6 which carries the inail receptacle 1T at its outer end. Fixed to the outer end ol` the bracket l is a sleeve 'IS through which the bar t6 is passed. roller t9 is preferably proyided within the sleeve 1H upon which bar tti rests. 'lhus it will be seen that the bar 16 is adapted to have a telcscoping moyement relative to the bracket 12% for adaptingr the receptacle t7 to be moved in and out as indicated respectively by the dotted and l'ull lines in Fie'. l.

'lhe connection l'or: tht` receptacle t? with the bar tti consists of a plate 2() riveted or otherwise suitably fixed to the bar tti and a superposed reyolubly mounted plate 21 resting' uponthe plate 2t). 'l`he plate2t is t'ormed with an annular opstanding llangre 22 l'ormed at its outer edge with an out wardly extend ing.

ilange 23 which latter llauge is lxcd to the bottom of the receptacle 1T. 'l`he plate 2t is provided with a centrally disposed bearingr sleeve 24 which may be suitably secured to or l'ormed integral with the plate 2l and a similar sleeve 2:')projects upwardly l'rom the plate 2t) through thc sleeve. 24. it cottcr pin orothersuitablesecuring means 26 is passed through the upper end ot' the sleeve 25 l'or.

preventingr displacement ol' the parts. lt can be thus seen that the box t7 can be freely rotated at the same tinte being held against lateral play. In orde-cto lock or retain the box 17 at any one or a number otpositions i preferably provide depressions 2T, 2T inthe plate 2t) into which extend projections 2S, 2S trom thc plate 2l. Obviously as many de- )rcssions and as many ol the projections may be employed as are preferred. and'obyitaisly the positiouintr ol' thereceptacle l? may be utilized l'or signaling purposes.

ln operation the operator simply eras-ps receptacle t7 or any suitably provided handie; swings the same outwardly and then draws the same l'urthcroutward so as to have easy access to the receptacle without haring` A\l'tcr makingr t he collection or delivery' the operat or moves the recept aclc ,l T inwardly and then releases the saine whereupon, owingr to the weight ol' the parts and their inclined position, they swine' laterally to a position parallel to the roadway, and are thus entirely out ot' the mth of travel. In order to prevent too uiuc-h vibration or lateral swinging,r ot the parts after they havearrived :rt/the out ol' the way posit ion I provide a detent on the vertical ortion of the bracket t3 adapted to engage t. 1e shoulders t) and l() at eitherI terminus of the slot 7, and this detent which may ic. ol thick materialiil" desired but I preferably use comparat-ivcly thin material and therefor provide a llange2t) about the edge ot' the plate as a substitute tor thickness ol material. 'lhe plate 2S" is formed partly 'preferably consists ot' a plate 2C circular and then restricted at two points 'n'oducing a lateral projection 30, asbest seen 1n Fig. 7, lying within the radius of the, circle which would be described if the plate ZS were a complete disk. The material'oi the plate 28 is stamped up from the center leavincr an aperture through which the vertical portion ot the bracket 13 extends and the stamped up portion is preferably riveted or otherwise suitably secured as in Bt to the said vertical portion of the bracket 123. The plate 2S is positioned at that point in the length ol' said yerticalportion which causes it to occupy a position within the slot 7, so that when the bracket 13 falls to the. inclined position indi ated in Figs. 2 and 3 projection 30, which extends outwardly in the direction ol' the extension o't' the bracket 13, will lie between the shoulders t) and 1t) and serre as a dctent for preventing vibration of the parts.. Obviously the particular relationship ol the projection 13 to the radius of the plate 2S" readily enables the projection to be withdrawn from between the shoulders 9 and tt) when the bracket is swung outwardly` What l. claim is:

1. .ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination, ot a. fixed bracket plate havingr a slotted bracket llange and an irnperl'orate llange, a bracket piyotally engagintar the slot of the bracket tlange and resting by weight upon the said imper'forate flange, means for pi'e\' e1itin;r vibration carried by Said last mentioned bracket within said siot, and a receptacle sustained by the last inentioned bracket. l/

2. ln an apparatus ol' the class described, the combination, ot a slotted bracket, a bracket comprising a. continuously integra-l strip bent into bracket torni alittle-tying a vertical portion extending through the slot;l

oi' the slot ted bracket, a grui'de plate Vfixed to said vertical portion within said slot and 'l'ormed with a detent, shoulders being formed at the ends of said Slot adapted to bc engaged by said detent, the upper edge o'l' the second ,mentioned bracket being; constructed to be disposed in outwardly and upwardly inclincd planes when the said vertical portion is positioned centrally oi' said slotand to be in horizontal planes when the said vertical portion is at either terminus of the slot, and a receptacle sustained by said second inentioned bracket. Y

It. in an apparatus of the class described, the combination ot' a lixed bracket plate formed with ii slot, a support, a bracket having ay mcntbe'r extending through said slot and resting upoii said support, the slot being formed \\itlisl1oulders at its end, a guide plate witlt'tn vthe slot iixed to the bracket member which extends through the slot, said guide platebeing 4formed with a. laterally projectingdetent adapted to engage said shoulder lor preventing vibration ot the bracket,

35 said support, a relatively thin flanged p escasa the bracketbeing constructed to have its upper edg'e'l liev a horizontal plane when t e slotengaging member of the bracket is at one terminus of ther slot,', 'and a receptacle supo rted by saidbraclie't. an apparatus of a support, a bracket having a member extending' through the slot of said bracket l plate and resting u on said support, the

min'portion'of sai bracket 'extending at such angnlarity with res ect to the slot engagin'gv member as to be disposed in upwardly and outwardly inclined planes when the fslot engaging member is mtermediate the length of the slot, and a receptacle vcarried bf said bracket.

5. lliian apparatus of the class described,

' the combination, of a slotted bracket plate,

V a support, a 4bracket comprising a strap of angular'material. bent into bracket form and having one member 'extending through the slot o said bracket plat, the second menltioned 'bracket being dis osed. to extend in u wardly and outwardy inclined planes W enthe slot en aging member is intermediate the lengti lof Athe slot, a guiding plate fixed to and surroundin said slot enf gagin'g `member within the s ot, and a receptaele'sustained by said bracket.

, slot, and a receptacle sustained by said sec-v .i140 ond mentioned racket. 7.' In an apparatus cfg-the classl described,

- ,the combination of a slotted bracket plate, a

"l'support a bracket having a-member extendj '.'ing-thr-ou h said s lgfitrsting upon said support, a re ativelylthin plate having an intermediate-1' port'in'stamped out and fixed to s slotfengaging member, said slot engagg membe'r extending' through the opening fi podueed by the stamped out portion, and

the class described, the"combination,` of a slotted bracket plate,

the said plate being disposed within the slot for guiding said slot engaging rnember itn is o an( a recep ,ac e

movement within the s sustained by said bracket` 8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination,- with a support, of a bracket pivotally carried thereby and disposed at such angularity thereto as to extend in outwardly upwardlyinclined planes when projecting outwardly from said support, and a receptacle slidingly carried bysaid bracket.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination', with a support, of a bracket pivotally sustained thereby and having its upper member spaced from the remaining portions of the bracket, a; sleeve` carried at the outer end of the bracket, a sleeve movably engaging the vupper member of the bracket, a bar fixed to said movable sleeve and movablT extending through the first mentioned s eeve, and a receptacle carried by said bar.

10. In an apparatus oT the class described, the combination, with a bar, of a plate fixed 'thereto and having an upstandin'g cylindrical portion, a second mentioned plate rota-s 7 5 tably mounted on the first plate and formed with an upstanding sleeve surrounding the cylindrical portion of the first mentioned plate, and a rece taclc sustained by the second mentioned p ate.

11. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination .with a supporting bar, a plate fixed thereto having an u )standing cylindrical portion, a plate rotatab ymounted upon the first mentioned plate and having van upstanding sleeve surrounding said cylindrical portion, retaining means extending through said sleeve for preventing displacement ,of the sleeve, a plate connected therewith, and a receptacle carried bythesecond mentioned plate.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

JAMEs sMrTH LANiER.

Witnesses:

JOHN L.y FLETCHER, EDGAR M. KITCHIN. 

